This is the city: Los Angeles, California. I work here. I'm an ex-mayor. Los Angeles is a magnet for people from all over the world. Some of them run for public office. Inevitably some of them stray from the golden rule and rule for those that have the gold. That's when I go to work. My name is Yorty. I'm a dead pol.

Sunday, October 30, 2005

Mayor Sam's Sunday Funnies

We've documented the activities of former child star Pam Ferdin and her group of animal wackos here recently, and the latest escapades leave us with a chuckle. The Daily News reports that today members of the Animal Defense League took their latest protest to Mayor Villaraigosa's Mt. Washignton home. Problem is the Mayor wasn't home. Why - cause he moved to Getty House weeks ago.

Now we had a heads up that the animal wackos were headed to CD14, but we waited until now to say anything about it. For one, even though the Mayor has kind of been making us mad lately, we don't think even elected officials desever wackos protesting outside their homes. As well, we figured it was best for all to let the ADL goof and keep them out of Hancock Park.

In other news of wacko, shit for brains activist, teachers' union organizers are displaying exactly why the LAUSD needs major reform. Boi from Troy has a great piece including pictures that shows they can't even spell a simple word like "bus." Maybe they were thinking of Laker owner, Jerry Buss, I don't know. Sam Yorty's America and other blogs also have the story about how union thugs nearly beat the crap out of a lone, female Arnold supporter at the same rally where the misspelled sign was at.

Speaking of Sam Yorty's America, our national blog, here are a few stories you might be interested in reading:

3 Comments:

Anonymous said:

LA DOWNTOWN NEWS ENDORSES PACHECO (sort of). . .

Editorial

Los Angeles Downtown News has interviewed the four people considered to be the top candidates for the 14th Council District seat. Attorney Brian Heckmann is a sincere, politically moderate candidate whom we expect to see again in future elections, but he has neither the momentum nor the experience to win this race. Cheerful and warm council staffer Ruby de Vera, who has raised $23,000, "mostly from old friends," senior citizens who are volunteering for her campaign, says this is her last run and she is considering retirement. She will probably come in third or fourth. She will not make the almost certain runoff.

There are two candidates who deserve serious consideration: former councilman Nick Pacheco and school board member José Huizar. After much thought, we have decided not to endorse either one at this time.

It's an unusual race. Voters must decide between two distinctly different candidates, each with strong advantages and disadvantages. We think it is more useful to make those differences clear so that you, if you're a voter, can make your own informed choice.

If you vote for José Huizar you are voting for the anointed candidate, the one picked by our current mayor, 10 council members, Downtown's Congressional representative and a host of unions, public figures and organizations, including the L.A. Area Chamber of Commerce. He's a smart, well-educated, photogenic up-and-comer, a pleasant fellow who enthusiastically wants to keep his eye on the big picture. From the endorsements alone, a significant accomplishment, you'd think it is a one-sided race.

Trouble is, Huizar does not yet seem to know the district all that intimately, despite having grown up in Boyle Heights. In particular he offers few specifics about the portions that fall in Downtown: Skid Row and parts of the Historic Core and the Fashion District are enormous communities and each will influence the future of the city. With Huizar's strong interest in city planning, we expected more.

Uncomfortably, it is clear that one factor - though by no means the only dynamic - in the large number of endorsements is that people are a little afraid to go against popular new Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. It is commonly accepted in local political circles that some endorsers are at least in part making a peace offering after having backed former Mayor Jim Hahn in the last mayoral election. Also playing into the decision-making here and there is an anti-Pacheco growl from those who didn't like the pugnacious way Pacheco handled himself in an earlier term as the 14th District Councilman, some key representatives of Little Tokyo, for instance.

If elected, Huizar might well gain depth, nuance and the necessary aggressiveness over time. However at this moment, while we see potential, we do not see the signs of strong leadership that the district deserves.

Nick Pacheco has plenty of nuance and a warehouse full of experience and aggressiveness. He knows the 14th District very well, and can tick off an impressive array of specifics and neighborhood projects. He's definitely the Guy Most Likely To Fill Your Pothole. He also knows that the bridge in Hollenbeck Park needs fixing, and that a shuttered bulky item pickup center on Washington Boulevard needs reopening. He goes on and on.

However, the ability to fill potholes and the like is just part of a council member's job; the other aspect is the political side, building relationships, and the compromise and give-and-take with other lawmakers and community leaders. Pacheco has sat on the council for four years, which is why it should give you pause that he has received so few endorsements, and not one from any of the councilmembers he once worked with. Is that only because of the "Antonio factor," or has the anti-Nick aspect gained serious traction? We think it is some of both.

We believe Nick Pacheco would do anything - absolutely anything short of obvious lawbreaking - to help himself and his district, and you have to decide if that quality is always a good thing. He's likeable (unless you're in his way), energetic, informed, intelligent and focused, but he's not the guy you vote for if you're envisioning a new era in City Hall. He's an old-style politician who will fight and arm twist and take advantage, even if it isn't necessarily fair or good for the city as a whole.

There are things we like about José Huizar and Nick Pacheco, and things we don't. They are very different individuals, and we hope we've laid out their traits clearly enough to help you find the qualities you are looking for in a council member.

In short, you can vote for the green up-and-comer whom an impressive number of politicos seem to like, or you can vote for the sure-fire pothole filler not backed by any of those he has worked with.